Daniels & Durgy

It’s difficult for people to escape doubt. No matter how good things may seem at any point in our lives, there are always moments of concern, of counter-thought and worry that lurk in the shadows of our imagination. Few things are without blemish and most of us can be unforgiving in the presence of imperfection. Thus, the shadows and the darkness that seeks to stifle the light.

Copyright Daniels & Durgy 2023
Gentle Rain Records 
Available to Buy: danielsdurgy.bandcamp.com/
Written Performed & Produced by Nat Daniels & Craig Durgy
Nat Daniels: vocals, piano, organ, bass & percussion
Craig Durgy: vocals and guitar

Lyrics:
Shadows of Doubt by Daniels & Durgy

Love can come, through the wind and rain
But too much sun, burns it all away
What I thought was fun,
What I thought would stay
Is up and gone like a Christmas Day

You appeared and your lips were true
Through the fear, I was lost in you
It was all so clear, but the moments flew
Then it slipped away with the slightest clue

But I still want you, but do I dream
Is my judgment, too extreme
Am I searching for an excuse
Could I ever, really cut you loose

As love grows, time reveals
Everything it knows, coming off its wheels
Dealing blows, does it blow the deal
Does it show what my heart should feel

Just a couple words, did I read ‘em wrong
Cause the way I heard, hit me pretty strong
The doubt occurred, like a half-wrote song
Throw it all away and just move along.  

But I still want you, but do I dream
Is my judgment, too extreme
Am I searching for an excuse
Could I ever really cut you loose
No, I just can’t let you loose.

Shadows Of Doubt

Nat wrote this beautiful song some time ago inspired by some of the greatest love stories of the world, including her own, and we have slowly worked on a properly produced final version where she will sing the lead. But inspired by the song myself, I decided to record my own simplified version just as a “Voice Memo” on my i-phone. Nat loved it and it hung around as we continued to look toward the piano based version with Nat’s lead vocal. But with Valentine’s Day nearly upon us and little time to make a major production effort, she decided to sing along to my rough, live recording and this is what we have to offer. The bigger version will follow but, for now, we wish all who aspire to love, a very Happy Valentine’s Day 2024!

Copyright 2023 Gentle Rain Records / Daniels & Durgy
Written, Produced and Performed by:
Nat Daniels & Craig Durgy

Lyrics: When The Angels Cried

I never thought I'd ever find you, 
My heart was broken, so full of doubt, 
But heaven knew what we had been through, 
Fate led you in, as I walked out..   

And in that moment, somehow, I knew, 
I found my home when I found you...     

That's when the Angels cried  
When our souls found their truth...   
And when we stood there face to face, 
And finally said the words " I do"...    
That's when the Angels Cried 

The Angels light the dark and lonely
(The Angels.. light the dark...)
They guide the brave, and lead the true..
They lift our souls, with an awesome choir
And bring us hope, more than I knew
Our Angels searched the whole world through
To join our souls in perfect love for two ..

That's when the Angels cried  
When our souls found our truth...   
And when we stood there face to face, 
And finally said the words " I do"...    
That's when the Angels cried 

There’ll be times we’ll be indifferent
(For better...  For worse... Oh Let be your guide)
And times we wont see eye to eye
(To have and to hold...)
But at night, behind drawn curtains
(Oh My love..)
The love that shines inside us just wont let us die..

We’ll hear the Angels cry 
(In your eyes I'll see..)
As our love finds our truth.
And if the world comes to an end
We’ll meet in Heaven once again ....
And our Love will make the Angels cry…

When The Angels Cried

When The Angels Cried (Live)

This song came about in a rather odd way, in pieces at first. Somewhere this phrase came out and I went with it as an expression of the often heartless way of corporate business life. Trying to get ahead but losing track of yourself and your real values along the way. My humble attempt to pay tribute to Pete Seeger or Phil Ochs perhaps😁. Special thanks to Hamilton Belk for his beautiful dobro playing on this recording, and to Nat Daniels for her wonderful work in remixing and producing the final outcome, vastly improving on the original version I did some years ago.

All music and lyrics written by Craig Durgy
Craig Durgy: vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica
Hamilton Belk: dobro
Produced by Nat Daniels of Gentle Rain Records
Copyright 2023
Gentle Rain Records

Lyrics: The Cuttin’ Way by Craig Durgy

Found my way, beyond this cuttin’ way
This hustlin’, bustlin’ way of life
That’s cut me like a knife

Starts today, leaving that cuttin’ way
That blood for nothin’ way of life
I’m cuttin’ out of sight

Ohhh, where did I go
Why did I follow, didn’t I know?
Ohh, hear the wind blow
Lay down your burden and let…the rope go

I saw daylight through windows and doors
Working my way up through so many floors
Never arriving, no slowing down
Leaving my soul at the floor, on the ground

Found my way, beyond this cuttin’ way
This hustlin’, bustlin’ way of life
That’s cut me like a knife

Starts today, leaving that cuttin’ way
That blood for nothin’ way of life
I’m cuttin’ out of sight

Never arriving, no slowing down
Leaving my soul at the floor, on the ground

The Cuttin’ Way

The Cuttin' Way

This is a toe-tapping sort of song combining amplified and acoustic instruments. A simple, fun love song about a guy who lost the love of his life for years and contented himself with doing "nothin' special"...until he and the girl randomly run into each other again. The flame is rekindled into "somethin' special”. This release is even more special as it is a remake of a previous recording that I entrusted to my "Daniels & Durgy" partner, Nat Daniels (Gentle Rain Records), to remix and produce. Nat cleaned up so much along with adding her piano and bass skills to really make this meet my original expectations. Thanks Nat! (banner artwork by StockSnap/Pixababy)

All music and lyrics written by Craig Durgy
Craig Durgy: vocals, guitar, banjo
Nat Daniels: piano & bass
Produced by Nat Daniels of Gentle Rain Records
Copyright 2024
Gentle Rain Records

Lyrics: Special by Craig Durgy

Nothin’ special, no, nothin’ special
Ain’t nothin’ special, never nothin’ special to do
Till I ran into you

No way of knowing that you’d be showing up here
You’re eyes are glowing, there’s somethin’ going on here
Somethin’ special my dear

I guess there’s no understanding, just why we drifted apart
But we were young and just looking for a brand new start
Your smile reveals what I’m feelin’, and I ain’t gonna be shy
I’m not letting my something special pass by

But there was nothin’ special, no, nothin’ special
Nothin’ special, that’s especially true
Compared to being with you

Now I can tell you, girl just how well you
Look and smell too, it must compel you to be
Feelin’ special for me

Nothin’ special for so long, guess I was waiting on you
And now I know that you were long lost lovin’ me too
Now you can hear when I say it, that I love you so true
Girl, there ain’t nothin’ more special than you

When I told you I loved you, you weren’t around to reply
And all these years I just wound up wondering why
Now you can hear when I say it, that I love you so true
Girl, there ain’t nothin’ more special than you

Nothin’ more special, there ain’t nothin’
No, no nothin’, nothin’ more special than you
Now that you’re lovin’ me too!

Special

This is an original tune that is somewhat inspired by my own experience as a salesman. It relates the empty feeling of being holed up in a hotel/motel with a "tomb of a hotel room" and needing to find a local bar to settle into for a little fun. The nightlife traveling from town to town and a new bar every stop along the way becomes a sort of comforting home away from home. It doesn't have to be anything more than your typical neighborhood hole in the wall bar as long as it has cold beer, music and TV...and an open barstool!
Special thanks to my Daniels & Durgy partner, Nat Daniels, for her huge help in updating this older recording of mine. Her production skills and mixing really made this shine so much brighter, along with the addition of the talented Dakota Holden on pedal steel.

All music and lyrics written by Craig Durgy
Craig Durgy: vocals, guitar, lap steel guitar
Dakota Holden: pedal steel guitar
Nat Daniels: bass
Produced by Nat Daniels of Gentle Rain Records
Copyright 2024
Gentle Rain Records

Lyrics:   Barstool by Craig Durgy

I’ve been all across this land
I’m what ya call a travelin’ man
Each day I work from town to town
On the road is where I’m bound

Every day it’s something new
Earning my pay the way I do
And when my 9 to 5 is through
I need my dinner and some brew

(chorus) This tomb of a hotel room just ain’t no home to me
Set my sights on those party lights
The first bar that I see
They’re in all shapes and sizes, but each one hypnotizes
Cold beer, music and TV
If a barstool’s open then it’s good enough for me

Shaking off another day
The dust and dirt along the way
I did my work, it’s time to play
I’ve got a thirst I must obey

Plop down that coaster and a glass
Cause I’ve just plum run out of gas
Pick me up, lighten my load
By break of day I hit the road

(chorus)

I won’t know anyone around
But I know that jukebox sound
I recognize that Miller sign
And everyone I love is on my mind

Cause when you pull up to that bar
And that bartender fills your jar
You might be wishing on a star
It don’t matter where you are

(chorus)

Barstool

This is a story about an Irish heroine called Grace O'Malley, Also known as Grainne of Clare. She lived in the late 1500's, she was known as the Pirate Queen of Ireland. She made fortunes, saved her sons from the Queen of England, fought on behalf or Ireland with her armada of ships and was a fierce, beautiful force of nature.. a true example of valour, will power, grace under pressure, fortitude and determination, with a commanding spirit. Here's to you Grace...   Happy St. Patrick's Day..    ☘️ Sláinte!!!  ☘️

Written, produced and performed by: Nat Daniels & Craig Durgy
Nat Daniels: tin whistle, guitar, piano & vocals
Craig Durgy: mandolin & vocals
Copyright 2024 Daniels & Durgy / Gentle Rain Records

Lyrics:  The Tale of Grace O’Malley

Let me tell you the tale
Of Grace O’Malley
Crimson red hair 
And the courage she carried
A nobleman’s daughter
A life full of rules
But fate took her hands 
And gave her sailing shoes
A pirate queen,  deadly  and fair…
In Gaelic her name wasn’t Grace
It’s Grainne of Clare  

Oh Grainne, Grainne of Clare
Who could lead men to battle, lead with a valkyrie stare
And you’d never give in
Though your life was at stake
You’d show us what valour could mean
For you’d rather die freely
Than live on your knees

V2
In a time when a girl 
Had no worth but breeding
You broke all the rules
And pierced every ceiling
You made all your fortunes
Then saved all your sons
And paid the Queens’ ransom
Then called all to arms
For bonnie Ireland needed you so
And your heart would never let go.. could never let go….

Oh Grainne, Grainne of Clare
Who could lead men to battle, 
Lead them with a with a valkyrie stare
And you’d never give in
Though your life was at stake
You’d show us what valour could mean
For you’d rather die freely
Than live on your knees
Oh you’d rather die freely 
Than live on your knees…

So now you know the tale.. of Grace O’Malley
Just a girl with red hair .. who was worth more than marriage
Now look at your daughters..  and tell them you love them
And treat them like equals and never condemn them
They’re all so much more.. they’re  worth so much more…
Like Grainne of Clare.

Daniels & Durgy

Randy